Method of and apparatus for stretching leather



Sept. 20, 1932. c. M. ARGABRITE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING LEATHER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 (NW W BNEL mm win Sept. 20, 1932. G. M. 'ARGABRITE METHOD OF AND APPARA'IUS FOR STRETCHING LEATHER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet I 2 w MN when Qm G. M. ARGABRITE Sept 20, 1932. 1,877,787

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING LEATHER Filed Feb. 21, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ooooooq yaZrLZe, W "E g Sept. 20, 1932. G. M. ARGABRITE 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING LEATHER Fi-led Feb. 21, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 52 verz 259.7: @2396 Z7652,

Sept. 20, 1932. ARGABRITE 1,877,787

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING LEATHER Filed Feb. 21. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M aiiqw Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITEII sures PATENT OFFICE? GEORGE: M1. .A RGl A B BlIfl flzl,- OF CHICAGO,, 1131111013,. ASSIGNOB. TO LEATHER CO ING OE CHICAGD ILLINOIS, A GQRRORATIONE OF. ILLINOIS EQnIrmEmr METHOD OF AND FOR" STRETCHING' HEATHER Applicatibmfiled February'm, I980; Seriel No. 430,259.

Thie' invention relates to a method ofz and: apparatus for 'stretcliing leathen jhides pelts". and other sheet like materialsii Heretofore sides of hides-s have:- been stretched to increasevthe elem thereof; through the eimultaneous= movement offer number of. auxiliaryframes: 01? carriers to which the" hides are attached. Tlier carriersaere monnt 3 ecl inwmmainafmmeranctmcchanicahmeanssarerremployeclloperatingrat tlienenterof'tho main frame to givesimultaneous movement: to: the" carriers in: an: oblique; direction; outwardly from the" center ofthe'main frame. Objec tion to this apparatus endmethotl of. stretchingis that;thoxauxiliary fnames orcarriers are not; independently movable withrespect to eechiothen and? consequently; some pontsions .ofx the hide cannot: be stretched; to' a; greaterexetent thenothers whichimey he requirediin a0- tualipractice; n

An: object on my; invention: iS'.tOHI1OV ide means whereby. the: auxiliary; frames" on can--v 1ie1s mny he moved? eithen'simultaneouslyor" inclepenclentlm 1 that is,- the auxiliary fiPflIHGSi may be moved: independently; thereby enw eblinpg; different; portions 036 the: hide"- to be:

stretoheclkto:theoxtentldesired.,

Another object; of? invention isa'to provicle a: main; frame: and? have the euxilianyf HOHEHU'HQS on carriers so monnteclitherein: that the carriers maybe given eitliei' simult'aneous or inclepehdentimovement i l i 'ALnothenoliject of my'inventiiindsito provide power 'oponatcd'i means for giving-unevement to the aux-iliany finaines-g-therebeingra suitable motor foneach auxiliary frame.

A- further obj eet of 'my invention isto pro Vicle means Whereliythehpplicetionof power to the severalfmotbrs maybe controlled from a single station" ancltliusavoiiillthe necessity of lie-Vin. an operator ateecliwmotorors going from motor to'motor toogerat'e them.

A further object of my" invention is to provide the motors in the fo m OfiflllidaCtlletecll' devices with valve. means, onerfor. each clevicet, and]; grouped together so that all. of the. velves ere ogerahlefromizm singlestation totcontrol: the movementtoftthe caarniers when! 50 stret hingthemeterial theneon;

'Bheinvention consists funther in the-mete ters hereinafter described and claimed In 'theaccompanying drawings-f 1 Fig; 1* ice-plan View of: a stretching zipper ratus: constructed and arranged in accord since with my invention;

Fig, Qisan elevationel-i view of the structure-showninFig. 1; V i

Fig.3.is a diagrammatic View of-the fluid actuated meenswend control means therefor; 6.4.

Withpants'in section V Fig.4 is at plan View, with partsinsection, of; a: corner construction to be hereinafter described; a v

Fig. 5vis elongitudinal sectionetview taken on line 55 o-f' Fig.4; t I

Figs. 6,7, ,S-and 9 -are sectionalwiews taken on lines 67-43, 7r-'7,1 818, and; 9-9,, res'pec- V tivelywfFigtL; i

Fig; 10 is e-siolev'iewi unite; t it 7 i Fig; 11 is-a planlview of-t thersameg Fig; 12 is a longitudinal sectional View 7 takenon-rline 12+-12ot Fig. 11:;. andl i F ig; lt is 3;! transverse sectional View taken: 1.1 on line'13'-l8of Fig.1 1'2": q

ImFig-g 1, L indicates-theunainlframeepnefe err-ably. fOItIDQ-(ll oftubing and generally rectangnler. in; shapeand having side members 2, 2 and end member s3; 3,- which are-con? so neeteel i at the corners ofi the frame by conplings- 4, 7 4s; Extending centrally across 1 the main: framed bot'hi longitudinelly and: transversel-y; is a bracing structure: of which 5 constitutes-i the longitudinal portion and; 6 w the transverse portion. These portions are conneetecl=together at the centerof the frame; where? theymeet; ,asshow-n4 in Fig: 1. Said.- portionsi 5-, 6 divide the main frame into foun rectangular sections a,. a ct substan- "t tially the same size and shape.

ltoeetediin eachsection a are impair; ofiau n iliery frames: or carriers l, 7 of substantially, the same shape" asthe sectionr but somewhat smaller: intsize sotthat. thev car-tiers may-have; moivomentin the section in theplane thereqf 'llll'e? earn-iers 7 arexarrangecli onropposite si des it ozE-iheifmme, so that there is a, set offont. carriensvonr each-wide of the: frame for the.

f one ofthe potter purposeto be hereinziften deSQcI ViJmecIz Eechmu.

. the metal where carrier 7 is slidably supported in its section.

on a palr of inclined rods 8, 9. These rods are arranged parallel and are supported by the bracing structure 5, 6 and the members 2, 3 of the main frame, as shown inFig. 1. The rods 8, Sam inclined outwardly from the bracing structure so that the carriers 7, 7 may be moved obliquely toward and from the center of the main frame. or

The rods Shave their outer ends secured to the side members 2, 2 of the main frame by clamps 10,10, while similar clamps 11, 11 connect the outer ends of the rods 9 to the end members 3, 3 of the main frame' The inner ends of the rods 8, 8 are supported by the transverse'portion 60f the bracing structure, while the innerends of the rods 9 are supported by the longitudinal portion 5 of said structure. The rods 8 and Q. 9 on opposite sides of said bracing elementsare preferably made in one piece sections and where they-cross the adjacent bracing elements, the latter have notches 12 therein (Fig. 7 to receive and support the bend-in the rods are joined- The bearing elements 5, 6- are preferably built up of angle-sections 13, 14 securedtogether in back to backrelationand with the notches 12 in the securedtogether flanges, as shown 9: in Fig. 7 The angle sections 13, 14of the portions 5, .6 of the bracingstructure for one set of carriers? are spaced from the-correspending sections of the portions for the other set of carriers by a number of spacers interposedbetween them so that the portions 5, 6 for each set of carrierswill be in proper position to support the rods for the carriers.

1 In Fig. 6, I show one of the spacers 15. These are located near the ends of the structure .where it is joined by welding or otherwise to the members 2, 3 of the main frame. A suitable spacer is locatedbetwee'n the angle sections where they meet at the center of the main frame,and such structure is indicated generally by 16 in Fig 1. i

Each'carrier 7 comprises a marginal frame 17 in angle form and'arranged with one" set of flanges in a plane parallel to theplane of movement of the carrier. A perforated-plate 18 is secured to the outer side of these flange-s and is co-extensive with the area of the frame, except for one corner, as hereinafter described. The perforations 19inthe' plate 18 are regularly distributed over the surface of the plate, and serve to receive the lugs 20 on the clips or toggles 21, by means of which the side 22 of a hide is attached to a set of the carriers, as shown in Fig. 1. The clips'21 are arranged. about the outer edge of rthe hide 22and connect the sameto all of the carriers in theset so that when the carriers are moved obliquely outward, the hide will be stretched as desired. The clips '21 are so made that the hide engaged thereby isma'in tamed out of contact with the plates 18'sov provide relatively wide bearingsurfaces for the rods. I

When stretching a hide, the main frame 1 is disposedin a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The main frame is supported in raised position by a pair of rail. sections 24,25 on opposite sides of the main frame, said rail'sections being exterior of the main frame and supported above the floor of the workroom by upright standards 25, 25'. at the opposite ends of the-sections. The

main frame 1 is provided at its ends with flanged rollers 26, 26 for supporting the frame on said rails. The rollers are secured to the end members 3, 3 of the main frame by clamps 27 27 (Fig. 8) which offset the rollers to one side of the longitudinal center line of the frame so as to give it more weight on one side of the rollers than on the other, thereby allowing the main frame to swing into a horizontal position when dropped on to the rail sections 14 from the overhead track-way from which the' main frame is suspended invertical position by hangers 28, 28 while traveling into, through and. out of the drier apparatus. The hangers 28 are attaehed to the main frameat its opposite ends on one side, as shown in Fig. 1. The standards 25 support the rail sections 2 1 high enough sothat the main frame can be swung about the axis of the rollers 26 to bring either frame 1' is supported in horizontal position by a number of stops 29, 29, one at each corner of the frame; These stops are carried by the power units to be now described.

To move the carriers 7-, 7 of either set, simultaneously or independently for stretching hideattached thereto, I provide a plurality of power units 3.0, 80, one for each carrier and arranged at, the corners of the main frame 1 when the latter is in stretching position, as shown in Fig. 1. The power units 30 are mounted in horizontal position on the upper ends of upright pedestals 31, 31, one for each unit. The pedestals 31 are secured to the floor of the workroom, and are so located that the units are exterior of the main frame 1. Whenof the fluid actuated type, asshown in the drawings, each unit has a cylinder 32, in which isa piston 33 having a piston rQdS f which extends through the end of the cylinder toward-the main frame 1. A

link 35 is pivoted to the outer end of each rod 34;, and the free or outer end ofthe link is in the form of a hook 36 to be engagedover a rib 3701i a casting 38 carried by the cooperating carrier Thecasting 3 8 fits within the corner of the carrier 7 beneath the plate 18, the latter being cut away :at suchcorner to allow the rib -37 to extend above the plate, as shown inF 4; and 5. The links extend over the upper side of the main frame 1 to engage the uppermost set of carriers 7 and when motive fluid is supplied to the cylinders 32, the carriers will be moved inward or outward, as the case may be, dependingon the direction in which the pistons 33 are move-d in the cylinders.

When stretching the material attached to the carriers 7, the latter are moved obliquely outward on the rods 8, 9. To prevent the carriers from being drawn inward by the tension of the stretched material when the power is released from the carriers, and also when the links 35 are lifted therefrom, so as not to lose the benefit of the stretching operation, I provide ratchet means which will prevent the return of the carriers but will allow them to be moved outward as the power is applied thereto. The means referred to is provided at the corner of each carrier where the link is at tached. Each means comprises a rod 39 obliquely arranged and in parallelism with the rods 8, 9. Rod 39 extends inward from the main frame 1 from the coupling 1 and has its outward end rotatably supported therein in a boss 40 provided for that purpose. A nut 41 is applied to the outer end of the rod 39 on the outer side of the boss and a handle member 42 is pinned to the rod on the inner side of the boss. The nut and handle member hold the rod against endwise move ment. The inner portion of the rod 39 or tends into the casting 38, and the latter has a tubular portion l3 to receive the rod and guide the carrier thereon in its inward and outward movement. The rod-39 is provided on one side with a series of ratchet teeth 44 with which engage a spring'pressedpawl or plunger 45 in a tubular housing 46 in the casting 38. The housing 46 is arrangedat right angles to the rod and opens into thetubular portion 13 so that the plunger may engage the rod and ratchet over the teeth thereon in the outward movement of the carrier 7. The teeth 44 are made to have inclined and straight faces, the latter being on the side of the teeth toward the main frame. The end of the plunger at the rod is reversely made so i that the red when engaged with said teeth will permit outward movement of the carrier but prevent inward movement thereof.

To release the plunger "15 from the teeth of stretching operation, the rod is turned by the handle member 42 to present the smooth side of the rod tothe plunger. "The plunger and are secured to the upper side of the plate 47 adjacent its side edges to provide a. channel therebetween. The cylinder 32 is slidab'ly mounted in this channel by the use of angle strips 51, 51 which rest on the base plate 17, and ht against the inner sides of the str1ps 50. Studs or screws 52, 52 are fixed to the strips and extend into horizontal elongated slots 53, 53in the strips 51, as shown in F ig. 10. T he cylinder is provided on its under side with lugs 5 1 by means of which the cylinder is attached to the strips 51, 51. The outer ends of thelatter, th at is, the ends toward the main frame 1, are brought together, as shown in Fig. 11, and the stop 29, heretofore referred to, is attached to one of these strips. 1

To move the cylinder 32 back and forth so as to adjust the stop 29 and thelink 85 for engagement with the main frame 1 and carr1er7, respectively, I provide a rack 55 on.

the underside of the cylinder between the strips 51, 51. A segment gear 56 is in mesh with the rack, the base plate 17 being pro vided with an elongated slot 57 for the gear to engage the rack, as shown in Fig. 12. The gear is fixed to a reel: shaft 58 journaled in oneor more lugs 59 in the casting 49 and to one end of said shaft is fixed a handle member 60 for turning the shaft. Thehandle 60 is arranged at one side of the base plate l7 and extends upward past the same to be within reach of the operator.

lVhen the main frame 1 is swung into horizontal position for a stretching operation, the cylinders 32 of the several power units 30 are moved inward by turning the handles 60 so as to bring the stops 2'9 under-the couplings 1- at the cornersof the main frame to support it in horizontal position. With the frame heavier on one side of the rollers 26 than at the other, the frame will remain against the stops without other fastening or holding means. With the links 35 extending over the upper end of the frame and engaging the uppermost carriers 7, the frame cannot be-displaced out of its horizontal position. To release the frame so that it may be swung about the axis of the rollers 26 to bring the other set of carriers uppermost for stretching the hide thereon, the cylinders 82 are moved backward after the links are released. This withdraws the stops 29 from withunder the frame so that the latter may be turned over as required, whereupon the cylinders are again moved forward to position the stops under the frame as before. 7 I

' Connected with each cylinder 32 are a pair of conduits 61, 62, which open into the opposite ends of the cylinder. These conduits lead to a control valve 63, one for each cylinoperated from a central station.

The motive fluid for the cylinders 32 is supplied through valves 63 by means of a supply pipe 66, which is connected to a suitable source of motive fluid supply, such as a tank or a compressor, if the motive fluid is in the form of compressed air. The pipe 66 leads to an intake opening 67 in thecasing 68 of one of the valves 63. Branches 69, 69 connect pipe 66 with the intake ports 67' of each of the other valves 63, as shown'in Fig. 3. Each valve 63 is provided with an exhaust port, 70, each connecting with one of the exhaust pipes 71. The conduits 61, 62 connect with the valve 63 on opposite sides of the intake and exhaust ports 67, 70 of the valve as shown in Fig. 3.

When the turning plugs of the valves 63 are in position shown in Fig. 3, the motive fluid is supplied to the cylinders 32 through the conduits 61 and the exhaust from the cylinders is through the conduits 62 and 71. At this time all of the pistons 33 are moved in the same direction and simultaneously, thereby moving the carriers 7 of the set connected with the pistons in the same direction and simultaneously. On turning the plugs into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the motive fluid is then supplied to the cylinders through conduits 62 and the pis- I tons are moved simultaneously in the opposite direction to impart a like movement to the carriers providing the ratchet means is released therefrom. This operation is performedwhen it is desired to return the car riers' 7 to the start of a stretching position after a hide, which has been stretched, has

' been released therefrom.

By manipulating each turning plug63 separately the carrier 7, controlled thereby,

stretched to a much greaterextent than the portions of the hide attached to the last mentioned carriers." .It is apparent that by havinga control valve .for each cylinder, the carriers may be moved independently or they may be moved simultaneously. In this way the hide attached to the carriers may be stretched to the extent required and the stretching of one portion of the hide may be greater than another portion merely by ma nipulating the valves to control the movement of the respective carriers.

With invention the stretching action is within the control of the operator, and the hide may be stretched to the extent desired over all portions thereof, because the stretching,mechanism is not limited or restricted to a uniform movement of all of the carriers, as is the case with the devices heretofore employed, wherein the carriers are not movable independently, but must be moved simultaneously, either outward or inward, as the case may be, and to the same extent with respect to all of the carriers.

lVith my invention the mechanism for moving the-carriers is exterior of the main frame and constitutes no part of the same, thereby making the main frame cheaper to construct and maintain, because it has no mechanical parts which control the movement of the carriers, as in the structures heretofore employed. 'With the power operated mechanism independent of the main frame, such mechanism may be used with all frames without duplicating the mechanism for each frame. This saves expense, both as to manufacture ofthe mechanism and its installation, and moreover, permits all of the frames to be used, because there is not that likelihood of the stretching mechanism becoming inoperative and thus throwing a frame out of use as is the case when the stretching mechanism is embodied in the structure of the fra'meitself. Moreover, with a set of carriers 7,7 on opposite sides of the main frame 1, the latter may support two hides at one time, and with the carriers of one set mounted for movement independently of those of the other set, the two hides may be stretched while the frame is at .the stretching station. This doubles the capacity of the frame and thus increases the output of the plant using the frames.

The details of structure and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

' I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials embodying a frame, means within the frame for supporti'ngv a plurality of carriers to which the material to be stretched is attached, said carriers being arranged for'movement toward and from each other inthe same plane and [Q other sheet like materials, embodying a in a plurality of directions, and adapted to be engaged by means whereby the carriers may be moved either simultaneously or independently in such directions.

2. An apparatus for stretching leather or frame, means within the frame for support ing a plurality of carriers to which the material to be stretched is attached, said carriers being arranged for movement toward and from each other in the same plane, and adapted to be engaged by means exterior of the carriers whereby they may be moved independently. v

3. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising. a main frame, a plurality ofcarriers mounted within the main frame and arranged for movement toward and from each other in the same plane and obliquely from a comindependently.

l. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a main frame, two sets of carriers mounted within the main frame and arranged on opposite sides thereof, each set of carriers consisting of a plurality of carriers movable toward and from each other in the same plane and in a plurality of directions, means whereby the materials to be stretched may be attached to the carriers of each set, the carriers of either set being adapted to be engaged by means whereby they may be moved inclependently of each other in such directions.

5. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a mainframe, two sets of carriers mounted within the main frame and arranged on opposite sides thereof, each set of carriers consisting of a plurality of carriers movable toward and from each other in the same plane and in a plurality of directions, means whereby the materials to be stretched may be attached to the carriers of each set, said carriers being adapted to be engaged by means exterior of the main frame whereby they may be moved independently or simultaneously. V

6. In an apparatus forstretching leather or other sheet like materials, embodying a plurality of carriers arranged for movement toward and from each other in the same plane, and in aplurality of directions, and whereon material to be stretched may be attached, power operated means, one for each carrier, and means for controlling the application of power to the power operated means whereby the carriers may be moved independently.

7 In an apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, embedyiznga st etched: may be. attached to each of the carriers, timid operated motors; one for each arrier a apted te ."be engaged" therewith for.

moving the same,..and valve; means for: con;

trol ing the applcation 0f mctiveituid to saidnnetors whereby the carriers be mover} either simultaneously orindepend; e ly 1Q. a. I v8:. Ima appar t s r etchi g leather 0.1.1 o her s e t like: materia s, compris nga mai frame, pluralit of carriers; mounted with ntathe main me and errangedfor mev menttoward and, from echuo her in: he s me P e and in a. plurality of. dime tions, and including means whereby theyma= telifil to.- be stretched may be. attached tathe carriers, power operated means, one for each; carrier and. arranged: to engage the carriers at the corners of the main frame when the latter is s et hing p s tion, and m ans for contr lling the app ic ion of p we i to said power qoperatedmeans whereby the carriers, may be moved either simultaneously 0 independen y. 1 1

1 9a n app a u f rstretch ng ather or other sheet like material-s, embodying a plu rallity of carriers, arranged for movement to,- ward' and from each other in the same; plane,

and including means whereby the materialize;

be stretched may be attached to, the carriers, fluid operated devices, one for each carrier and adapted; to be connected therewithto move the same, and valve means, one for each ofsaid devices, for eontrol-lingthe flow of motive fluid to; and from the same, the valve means for all of the devices being grouped togcther for operation from a single station.

10. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a main frame rectangular in form, means dividing the main frame longitudinally and transversely into a plurality of open sections, a plurality of carriers, one in each section, means slidably mounting the carriers in the respective sections and permitting movement of the carriers obliquely in the same plane toward and from the center of the main frame, means whereby the material to be stretched may be attached to all of the carriers, said carriers being adapted to be engaged by means whereby they may be moved either simultaneously or independently.

11. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a main frame, a plurality of carriers mounted with in the main frame and arranged for movement toward and from each other in the same plane, means for attaching material to be stretched to each of the carriers and in a plurality of directions, the carriers being adapted to be moved from-each other in such directions to stretch the material attached thereto, and means for preventing inward movement of the carriers under the tension of the stretched material thereon. r

'12." An apparatus for stretching'leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a main frame, a'plurality of carriers mounted within the mainframe and movable toward and from each other in the same plane'and in a plurality of directions, means whereby the material to be stretched maybe attached'to said carriers the carriers being adapted to be moved from each other to stretch the-material attached thereto in such directions, rods carried by the main'frame,' one for each carrier, said rods having ratchet teeth; and spring pressed plungers carried bythe carriers andengageable with the teeth of the rods to'prevent inward movement of the carriers under the tension of the stretched material thereon. I i V c 13. In an apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet like materials, comprising a main frame, a plurality of carriers mounted within the main frame and arranged for movement toward and from each other in the same plane, and including means whereby the material to be stretched may be attached to said carriers, power operated devices exterior of the main frame, onefor each carrier adapted to engage thereWith,'each device having a link to be extended across the main frame and engage the associated carrien and means for controlling the application of power to said devices wherebythe carriers'may be moved to stretch the material attached thereto. 1 1

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE M. ARGABRITE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,877,787. September 20, 1932.

GEORGE M. ARGABRITE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speeific'ation'of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5', lines 129 and 130, claim i1, strike eat the words "and in a plurality of directions" and insert the same to follow the word "plane" in line 127; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day oi November, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

